Insider Blog

Summer probably isn’t the best time of year to dye your hair. The constant exposure to sun, chlorine and salt water can wreak havoc on your tresses and cause that beautiful hair colour to fade. However, you might need a touch-up, want to cover those greys or you’re inspired to switch up your ’do for the season with a fresh dye job—and who could blame you with so many fabulous new hair trends like creme brûlée blonde and colour blocking. We’ve got you covered with some tips and maintenance steps to help keep your hair colour looking vibrant during these warmer months.

Use Colour-Safe Products

The first step in preserving your hair colour no matter the time of year (but even more so in the summer) is updating your shower routine with a colour-safe shampoo and conditioner that doesn’t contain harsh, colour-stripping ingredients. 

Formulated with hydrolyzed keratin, panthenol and collagen, Elastine Salon de Color Color Vibe Purple Shampoo & Conditioner helps target damaged hair and bring back a healthy-looking shine while helping to protect and define your hair colour. These products contain violet pigment to help neutralize the look of brassy yellow and orange tones. They work great for anyone with colour-treated hair and blonde, light brown or red hair tones.

Minimize Chlorine, Salt Water and Sun Exposure

We love outdoor summer fun as much as the next person, so we’ve made some notes on how to help protect your hair colour. Start by being mindful of certain activities. When hitting the pool or the beach, you may want to limit the time your head is fully submerged underwater or better still, wear a bathing cap. Also, try avoiding constant sun exposure by finding a shady spot, even if that means creating your own with a beach umbrella or wearing some headgear—a great opportunity to break out that cute bucket hat!

Use a Leave-In Conditioner

Prep your hair for the harsh summer elements before heading out the door. Leave-in conditioner is the unsung hair hero of the season: it provides an extra layer of hydration against the dehydrating effects of the sun and heat, making it an absolute must.

Our nutrient-rich leave-in conditioner is made with honey, vitamin-enriched propolis extract and royal jelly. Look for Elastine PropoliThera Leave-In Conditioner: it nourishes dehydrated strands, helping your hair regain the look of softness, body and shine.

Give Your Hot Tools a Break

We’re all for a voluminous blowout and luscious barrel curls, but as you may know, too much heat isn’t great for your locks. Dehydrated and heat-damaged strands can affect the overall appearance of your hair, including its colour. Summer is a great time to embrace your natural hair texture and give it a breather from extra heat. However, if you do find yourself reaching for a hot tool, be sure to use a heat protectant like our CHI® Essentials Revive Keratin + Bonding Protecting Serum. This keratin serum instantly adds shine and smooths the look of strands while helping protect hair from exposure to sun, heat and styling tools.

Show Your Hair Some Extra Love

Much like your skin, if you take care of your hair, it will show. Now is the time to really invest in your hair care routine. In addition to using a gentle and hydrating shampoo and conditioner, try adding a weekly hair treatment to your rotation to achieve shiny and healthy-looking locks.

Elastine PropoliThera Hair Mask is a rejuvenating mask infused with beeswax and antioxidants that help provide deep nutrition and help protect hair from heat and damage.

Unfortunately, there is no foolproof way to prevent your hair colour from fading during the summer, especially if you love the water. But with some proper maintenance and common-sense protection, you can slow down and minimize the process. Remember, your hair needs some TLC, too! On the bright side, the best thing about colour-treated hair is that you can always head to the salon for a touch-up...or do it yourself.

Check out even more hot weather hair care tips.